Grove of Titans Trail Reconstruction Project, August 2021. Photo by Max Forster, @maxforsterphotography.
Facts
Grove of Titans is in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, part of Redwood National and State Parks in Del Norte County, California.
It is within the traditional territory of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation.
Two research plots in Jedediah Smith hold 2,090 and 2,160 Mg above ground carbon per hectare.
The grove is close to Mill Creek, an important salmonid stream. Imperiled coho salmon and steelhead trout spawn here.
Redwood National and State Parks is internationally recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it protects a significant population of coast redwoods, the world’s tallest living things and among the most impressive trees on Earth.
Redwood National and State Parks protect 45% of the world’s old-growth redwoods.
The project is being completed through a partnership including Save the Redwoods League, California State Parks, the National Park Service, and Redwood Parks Conservancy.
Currently, the first mile of the 3-mile Mill Creek Trail renovation project has been completed, as well as construction of the 1,300-foot-long elevated walkway through the Grove of Titans. The trail segment and boardwalk opened with limited access in September 2021.
The new boardwalk connects to the existing Mill Creek Trail.
Trail crews have spent more than 90,000 hours to build the mile-long trail segment and elevated walkway. They removed unofficial social trails and restored previously damaged and degraded areas. Crews carried construction materials and tools by hand to avoid bringing vehicles and machinery into the sensitive habitat.
The remaining 2 miles of the Mill Creek Trail renovation will be completed by early summer 2022. This segment extends from the elevated walkway toward the Smith River where it will connect with the Hiouchi Trail.
The project added ADA-accessible parking and restrooms along Howland Hill Road.
New interpretive signage, developed in collaboration with representatives of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation and project partners will be installed in fall 2021.
The project cost is $3.5 million.
Save the Redwoods League contributed $1,706,746 toward the project, including a generous challenge grant from supporter Josie Merck of Connecticut.
The project was also supported by $875,000 from California Natural Resources Agency through Prop 68, the Parks, Environment, and Water Bond Act of 2018.
All partners contributed $762,600 in in-kind support.
The Redwood Parks Conservancy contributed $170,000 from donors.
